The Delta's Daughter Chapter 201

TALA

We arrived at a port on the mainland a day and a half later, both Tobias and Fergus (I refused to call him Rogue) were more than happy to be on dry land again, and much to my amusement, they both bent down and kissed the ground.

“It wasn’t that bad.” I laughed at them “You just need to find your sea legs”

“Easy for you to say princess, you were born with sea legs. It's in your blood” Tobias pointed at me giving me a non-amused glare.

“I was born in a desert Tobias, no matter who my father was. I had never even seen a body of water, especially the ocean since I left Bhakhil. Just because my real father was a Sea Dog, it doesn’t mean anything.”

“It means everything. I personally am a mountain bear. I prefer the cold weather and the streams full of fish, not on a vessel in the middle of nowhere floating for the sharks to come eat.”

I rolled my eyes at Tobias “Stop being a big baby,” I jested to the overly large bear shifter who was friendly, and most of the time, when he wasn’t throwing up on the boat was a lot of fun to be around. A little flirty and Kellen had to give him a few warning growls every now and then, but otherwise, he seemed like a good person.

It was to my understanding he was 2nd in command to the King of shifters, also known as the Bear King. And despite his playful demeanor Mike said he could be a scary bastard in battle or interrogation. I hoped I would only have to take his word for it and not ever have to see him in beast mode as Mike called it.

There were cars waiting for us and a big transport truck with blacked-out windows. This is where we parted ways. The six of us, Kellen, Tobias, Fergus, Jonda, Mike, and I would be going to the New Moon Palace.

Half dozen warriors would be escorting Oliver to the Kingdom of MacTire. A place I desperately wanted to visit if only because it held Teal’s family name. I looked across at Oliver where he was being escorted into the transport truck, catching his eye. He gave me a weak smile and a wink. I hadn’t been able to talk to him since Bhakhil and even if they all held animosity towards him, I couldn’t. The wolf had saved my life and he had kept his word.

“I want to talk with Oliver,” I said turning to Kellen who scowled and I could hear the low vibration of a growl from his wolf.

“Why” Was his short and annoyed answer.

“Because Kellen, despite his wrongdoings, he saved my life. He killed Jack to save me.” My voice pleading with him. If Kellen said no then I would not, but it was important to me.

“Fine.” He grunted out and turned his back on me.

“Hold up, I want a word with the prisoner,” I told the guards as I neared the truck they had just shoved Oliver in the back of. They made way for me but didn’t go very far for security reasons.

“Princess!” Oliver beamed at me showing his pearly whites off. He didn’t look distressed or worried at all.

“Oliver, I’m sorry…”

He cut me off shaking his head “Do not pity me, princess, this was always my fate… I had just hoped to avoid it. This is how things were meant to be. This is goodbye though. After I reach MacTire, Alpha Travis will have me executed, you will not see me again.”

“Oliver,” I sighed feeling tears brim, “Thank you for saving me from Jack. And thank you for showing me who you really are not what you were made to be.”

My words must have hit home, his eyes shifted from side to side like he had been found out and he lowered his head, but not enough that I couldn’t see the remorse and guilt hidden in those beautiful eyes of his. “You are the only person to see me for who I truly am. For that, I will be forever grateful princess and will carry our kiss to the grave and cherish it as I take my last breath. Thank you for really seeing me.”

“Times up, we need to get moving,” One of the guards said shutting one of the double doors.

My eyes stayed locked with Oliver’s “I will pray to the moon goddess for you Oliver.” I called out as the second door shut, closing off my view from him. I stood there for a few moments until the warriors climbed in and drove away. A strange empty feeling sitting in my heart, as if I had just lost a friend or a brother.

My relationship with Oliver was a complicated one to describe. We didn’t start off trusting each other, I thought of him to be like-minded to Jack. Oliver never pretended to be anything more or less than just him. Maybe because he was the first outsider to be honest with me, maybe it was because I knew he felt something for me. Something more than I could ever feel for him but still, I trusted Oliver when it came to me and perhaps I was the only one that ever could and would trust him in his whole life. He hadn’t had it easy, this much I knew. Maybe that’s why we connected, two lost souls who had understood each other at a pivotal point in time.

*****

The drive to the New Moon Palace took a little over two hours. I had drifted off almost immediately and woke to Kellen’s gentle kisses and him calling my name softly. I stirred, smiling when the pleasurable tingles lit up over my arms as fingers caressed them up and down, “Tala, wake up, we are almost there.”

I sat up and wiped my lips free of the drool that had leaked out while I slept, noticing a wet patch on Kellen’s shirt. I blinked a couple of times before my eyes widened, enamored by the lush and vast scene of greenery. Trees that kissed the clouds lined the hard black road we traveled. The sky was a brilliant blue but unlike Bhakhil, the clouds were white pieces of tuff dotted in the sky, instead of wispy streams of haze.

I rolled the window down and inhaled a huge gulp of the foreign scents. One, in particular, excited me. “Stop the car!” I shouted excitedly and the driver pulled over. No sooner than he had and I opened the door and ran toward the nearest tree, looking like a crazy person as I sniffed at it violently. It smelled like my mate. That spice and other heavenly smell I could never name, this was it. “What is this” I asked Kellen as he joined me by the tree.

“It’s a tree,” He chuckled bemusedly by my actions and question.

“I know that but what kind of tree”

“It’s a pine tree, they grow almost everywhere in our kingdom.” He hesitated “Tala have you never seen a tree”

“Only palm trees in person and in books but this…” I inhaled again “This tree smells like you. Pine. Spice and pine that’s what you smell like to me.” I turned to him still as excited as a kid with candy. “I didn’t know what your scent was, just that it was divine and I like it. Now I know.”

“Come on, let’s get back in the car. You can scent me all you want and when we are settled we can let our wolves out and run through the forest.”

I let him take my hand and guide me back into the car, “We can shift and run in the forest”

“Yes whenever you want,” He cocked his head.

“Vargr never let me shift, when you saw my wolf fighting him, it was the first time I had shifted in a long time. I didn’t even know if I could that night.” I sighed watching the trees pass by looking out the window.

“Vargr, didn’t let you shift” He asked surprised.

“No, after I shifted on my 16th birthday he commanded me to never shift again unless he said so, so once a year I got to shift and run in the palace gardens. I don’t know why.” I could hear my own sadness in my voice so I was sure Kellen hadn’t missed it.

“I’m sorry Tala, I’m sorry you had to grow up like that. Things will be different now, you can shift into Mora whenever you want now, and we can run together. Conri and I can show you all our favorite places and we can explore new ones together.”

“I would like that.” I smiled to myself. Just the thought of running through these lush forests had my wolf excited and wanting to come forward. Mora couldn’t wait to be set free, so much so that I worried she may never want to shift back.

Soon enough the car turned off the black road and onto a more worn road and the trees began to thin out giving me a look further past forestry. “Is that your palace” I asked when I spotted a huge white building on top of a hill, a small city (too big to be a village) surrounding it.

“Yes, that’s our palace,” I heard him chuckle.

The car neared the outskirts of the city and the closer we got the more I noticed how different this kingdom was. Not just because of the greenery and dense forestry, but there was no wall around the palace, and the streets were busy with newer-looking vehicles and shifters walking around. Their clothes were different, jeans and shirts as opposed to summer dresses, tunics, and togas. We passed by some small huts and gates, where warriors stood in black uniforms embroidered with blue patches and the crest of a moon and a silver wolf's head. No brown leather vests, no cattle prods. Some had swords, but none looked like they needed them.

Buildings in different sizes shapes and colors lined the road, and people stopped to watch the car pass by, all waved and I wondered if they knew it was the King returning. The people here looked well fed and I didn’t see one person begging as we passed through.

We pulled up into a gravel driveway that led into a huge circular courtyard and stopped in front of some steps. There were several people waiting for us, for Kellen, and I suddenly became very nervous again. The car Jonda and Mike rode in pulled up behind us with Tobias and Rogue in it also.

“Hey they are going to love you,” Kellen took my hand in his and lifted it to his mouth planting a kiss on my knuckles. I bit my lip, I wasn’t too sure. The Sea Dog Pack had been kind to me and welcoming after a rocky start. Could I get that lucky again After all, it was my sister who helped Orion try to destroy these people’s lives. Kellen got out of the car first and then offered me his hand to take. He was all smiles and full of energy. The adrenaline of being home made him almost bounce on his feet. Taking his hand he led me out of the car, at the same time Jonda emerged from the car behind me. We shared a look, this was her first time meeting Mike's family but I was sure I was more nervous than she was.

We took the first steps up and a heavily pregnant woman, no older than me came wobbling down the steps. Ignoring me and flinging her arms around my mate “Welcome home, I missed you so much.” She cried.

I was taken back as my mate hugged her just as hard and long and his shoulders began to shake and I could just hear his and her's murmured sobs as he held on to each other tightly. Mike had already taken Jonda up the steps to meet everyone else and I stood there not knowing what to do when suddenly a large dark shadow was cast over me. I looked up and further up at the mountain of a man who stood before me. His silver eyes frightening and dominant, this giant was huge and I felt like a small mouse. His stern dark features bore into me when to my surprise his lips parted and his face broke into a large smile. I was dumbfounded by his rugged beauty and enormous muscular stature.

“They may be a while,” He gave a deep chuckle “I am Mathias, and you will get used to how close our mates are” he grumbled.

Holy shit! I was standing in front of the King of shifters himself and the pregnant woman who was still holding onto my mate like he was her lifeline was Queen Lamia. I blinked a couple of times trying to find my voice, the rumors did not do this pair justice.

“T-Tala, your highness,” I managed to fumble out. I had never felt so intimidated in my life.

“Don’t let this big teddy bear scare you. Maybe once he was big and bad, but he was tamed the moment Lamia showed up.” Tobias slapped a hand on the king's shoulders. I thought Tobias was big but standing next to the King, he looked average and not so… big.

I felt arms wrap around me and knew it was Kellen right away. Immediately I felt secure and safe, even with the towering herculean man in front of me.

“Tala, I’m so sorry for hogging your mate like that, I am Lamia and Kellen better have told you about me” I turned my attention to the pregnant woman ready to greet her, and put on a fake smile, instead my jaw dropped.

Her Strawberry blond, black-streaked hair was so familiar, and her green dress also looked the part. “W – wow” was all I managed. The vision in front of me was the spitting image of the goddess from the painting. Her Human form and my mate's wolf form. Kellen said it was all true. I just dismissed it as he had heard the stories. But no they were the living breathing personifications of that painting.

“I told you would get it once you met her,” Kellen whispered in my ear giving me a kiss just below it.

“Umm, I’m sorry, you must think me an idiot,” I stumbled shaking my head “It’s nice to meet you finally your highness.” I managed to gather my wits and pick my jaw up off the floor.

“Uhh no.” She said sternly “You will not call me anything but Lamia, you are my best friend's queen. We are equals, and hopefully, we will become good friends.” She smiled at the last part and instead of shaking my hand, she reached out to give me a very awkward hug. Not only was she super tall, but so very very pregnant that I ended up just patting her shoulder. Once we broke apart from the strange greeting she took my arm and we walked the rest of the way up the steps together. “I am so excited Kellen finally found his mate, maybe now he won’t get himself into too much trouble. Because I swear to the moon, if he lets himself get kidnapped again I will personally hunt him down. I would have been there but King wouldn’t allow me anywhere, I had to threaten him just to let me travel here.”

Lamia chatted away, until we came to the top of the steps, “This is Delta Marcus and Vivian Langley, my parents,” they both greeted me with hugs “…and this duo is Beta Michael and Olivia, they are Mike's parents, Kellen and I call them Aunty and Uncle. I am not sure how much the boys have filled you in but I will answer any questions you have,” she leaned and whispered the last part “I know all their secrets and have no problem exposing them.”

I laughed at her, liking her already, she seemed so genuine and down to earth for someone who was a Queen, queen of shifters at that.

“Laima,” Mike called out and caught her attention “I would like you to meet someone very special.” Mike pulled Jonda forward and I sympathized with her intimidated look, which I was sure mirrored my own. “This is Jonda, Jonda this is my best friend Lamia”

“Your majesty, it’s a pleasure…” Lamia cut her off with a click of her tongue.

“Jonda, I’m going to tell you the same thing as I just told Tala, as Mike’s mate, we are equals, and please call me Lamia, we are family now”

“We are not mates,” Jonda said confused and I watched as the Queen's face morphed into one of confusion and she cast a glance at Mike, I swear it looked murderous but was quickly wiped off her face and replaced with a smile.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize,” Lamia said turning back to Jonda and ignoring Mike. “Still, if Mike thinks so highly of you, and you must be someone special for him to bring home, then to me you are still family.” And gave Jonda a big welcoming hug, I could see my half-sister go stiff, and finally, she brought her arms up to pat her shoulders the same way I did. The hug was just as awkward as ours.

The Beta and Delta family we were just introduced to crowded around Kellen giving him hugs and pats, all parties obviously happy to have their King home.

“I want to introduce you all to Rogue, he was enslaved with me, he is now pack and family. He doesn’t talk much but he can mind-link with everyone who is part of the New Moon pack.” He waved Fergus over and began to introduce him.

“Ok let's break this step party up, we have food, and wine inside, and the kitchen staff have been working all day, excited to have their King return. Tonight we get reacquainted, tomorrow we work.” Vivian, Lamia’s mother clapped her hands and started rallying us all towards the large wooden doors into the palace.

“Fuck!” We all heard Lamia cry out followed by a splashing noise.

“Lamia! Language!” Her mother began to scold her until she turned to face her daughter and her face paled.

“I know great timing, arrggghh!” She cried out again and doubled over. “King!” she reached for her mate who was quickly by her side.

“Shit, call the pack doctors, we have babies on the way!” The King panicked.

Vivian rolled her eyes, “Take her to our suite, she will deliver there, Olivia do we have everything ready” She asked the Beta’s mate.

“Yep, ready for anything she smiled then the older woman jumped up and fist bumped the air “We are having babies!” she yelled out super excited.

I somehow figured that living here was going to be very exciting. Never a dull moment. Jonda and I looked at each other, “How can we help” I asked.

“Ladies follow me, the more hands the better, we will be bringing three little shifters into this realm.” Vivian smiled.

“Hey, Lamia!” Kellen called out to her, the King stopped midway up some stairs, and Lamia glared at Kellen over his shoulder “I came home in time for the babies to be born.” He laughed.

“Asshole!” She ground out through another contraction but also managed to give him the finger.